Sikhism: The Gurdwara
Gurdwara means ‘the doorway to the Guru’. It is a place of worship and a centre of Sikh community life. The can be identified from the outside by the Nishan Sahib - the Sikh flag - which indicates that the building is a place of worship and of hospitality.
This saffron flag bears one of the Sikh symbols, the khanda, a double-edged sword.
Sikhs greet each other with a declaration of faith: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh (the Khalsa belongs to the Lord, Victory be to the Lord). Sikhs greet each other with a declaration of faith: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh (the Khalsa belongs to the Lord, Victory be to the Lord).
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The Gurdwara embodies the teachings of Guru Nanak and the other Sikh Gurus. The focal point inside the prayer hall is the Sikh ‘holy book’, the Guru Granth Sahib.
Worshippers and visitors remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the prayer hall. They might also wash their hands in order to show cleanliness and purity of purpose.
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It is positioned on a raised platform or dais, beneath a canopy. On entering the prayer hall, Sikhs walk up to the dais, bow and kneel before the Guru Granth Sahib.
Such respectful gestures indicate that Sikhs revere it as their final Guru, the living word of God. Worshippers leave donations of money, food or flowers before the Guru Granth Sahib. They are following Guru Nanak’s teachings: sharing what they have with others.
When the Guru Granth Sahib is not being read it is covered, usually with beautiful cloths. When it is open for reading, the Granthi (one who reads the Guru Granth Sahib and officiates at ceremonies) holds a chauri, a fan made of yaks hair. From time to time in her or his reading, the Granthi waves the chauri over the scriptures as a symbol of their authority and regal status. Both women and men may read from the Guru Granth Sahib if they can read the Gurmukhi (‘from the Guru’s mouth’), the script in which the Guru Granth Sahib and the Punajbi language are written.
On one side of the Guru Granth Sahib, musicians play the harmonium and tabla during services. Music is important in the Sikh tradition as a way of praising God and meditating upon God’s name. The congregation join in kirtan, devotional singing of the prayers and compositions found in the Guru Granth Sahib. Music helps the worshippers to remember the words of God and to take the meaning into their hearts.
Worshippers may also be heard chanting Wahe-Guru (Wonderful Lord) a Sikh name for God. Nam simran, reflection upon the divine name, is an important duty of Sikhs in expressing their devotion to God, following the example of Guru Nanak.
At the end of worship, individual and congregational, Karah Parshad, a sanctified food made from flour, ghee (clarified butter), sugar and water, is distributed. This sharing is of great significance for Sikhs. It symbolises the equality of all people in the sight of God and affirms the importance of sangat, the Sikh community of believers, sharing together in God’s teachings and blessings. Sikhs are expected to maintain contact with the sangat. So it is important for them to attend the Gurdwara where they can gain greater understanding of the teaching of the Guru and put into practise their central beliefs of sewa and equality.
The Langar ( the Guru’s kitchen) is a distinctive feature of the Gurdwara. It was introduced by Guru Nanak so that everyone could sit down and eat together, regardless of divisions. Members of the community take it in turns to donate, prepare and serve a meal to congregation and visitors alike. No distinction is made in the seating arrangements: all are treated equally, sitting side by side on the floor. (By cultural tradition rather than religious requirement, women and men sit separately.) All eat the same food and all are equally worthy of serving it or of being served. The meal in the Langar will always be vegetarian in order that anyone who turns up may accept the hospitality.
Langar is an active means by which the Sikh principles of equality and sewa (service) can be lived out. Sikhs are expected to participate in service to the sangat, the Gurdwara and to humanity in general. No form of labour is below the dignity of anyone, as Guru Nanak demonstrated in his life. There is great virtue in doing work for the benefit of the community. Service can be manual, intellectual or material. Everyone can contribute equally.
In some Sikh places of worship, pictures of the Gurus and of the Harmandar Sahib (‘God’s house’ or the Golden Temple) in Amritsar might be displayed on the walls, probably in the Langar rather than the prayer hall.
Of course the Gurus are not worshipped as God but revered as teachers whose words and lives lead people to God. There may be inscriptions on the wall from the scriptures, for example the Ik Onkar (‘there is only One God’, the first phrase of Guru Nanak’s prayer, the Mool Mantar).
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Etiquette on visiting a Gurdwara:
Sikhs welcome visitors to the Gurdwara but have the following expectations that everyone will:
- cover their heads – both male and female (scarves are often provided)
- remove their shoes (there are racks to leave shoes tidily)
- dress modestly - women and men should cover their arms and legs
- not take cigarettes and alcohol, which are strictly prohibited, on the premises
- sit with legs crossed or feet tucked behind so that feet are not pointing towards the Guru Granth Sahib
- avoid turning their back to the Guru Granth Sahib
In addition:
- a small bow in front of the Guru Granth Sahib would be seen as a gesture of respect towards their hosts
- women and men may sometimes be asked to sit separately
- visitors may be offered karah parshad and should accept or decline respectfully with two hands cupped to receive, or hands together in the gesture of prayer to decline. (Please note that it is better to decline parshad than to take it reluctantly and then be observed throwing it away or grimacing at it)
- visitors may be invited into the Langar and offered some food. They should accept or decline the hospitality respectfully
Click on the link for local Sikh Gurdwaras.
